Cable armoring machine



May 13, 1941. w. H. BLOUNT ETAL 2,242,022

CABLE ARMORING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1938 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Smaentors QQH I May 13, 1941. w. H. BLOUNT ETAL CABLE ARMORING MACHINE.

11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 1, 1958 'Jnncntors W1. (,Ccomj'r. 'BCQu-VZIT' 8 CLO-libe o T T5 Shea" Gflomeg y 1941- w. H. BLOUNT ETAL. 2,242,022

CABLE -ARMORING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1958 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 Gitorncg B9 Q F May13,1941- f w. H. BLQUNT ETAL 2,242,022.

CABLE ARMORING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1938 ll Sheet-Sheet 5 1941- w. H. BLOUNT ETAL. 2,242,022

CABLE ARMORING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1938 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 y 1941- w. H. BLOUNT ETAL. 2,242,022

CABLE ARMORING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1938 ll Sheets-Sheet l1 Unnentors WZ'CGmx-rz, J'IBCOwrCIT C W T. fisher QJQ TZA W I Gttomeg I Patented May 13, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,242,022 CABLE ARMORING MACHINE William H. Blount, Worcester, and Clayton F.

Fisher, Spencer, Mass., assignors to Sleeper &

Hartley, Incorporated, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 1, 1938, Serial No. 222,498

11 Claims. .(Cl. 173-244) of unrelated mechanisms have been used heretofore to carry on the various operations required for making such a cable and preparing it for the market; but their lack of coordination and the manual operations required therewith have made the manufacture of the cable unnecessarily complicated, laborious and expensive.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a single machine in which all of the required stages of manufacture are properly associated and which may be run substantially continuously for making armored cable of any desired length.

A further object is to provide a cable armoring machine which is capable of making armored cable of indeterminate length irrespective of the length of the insulated wire and of the armoring strip employed in the operation, and wherein the supply of Wire and cable may be renewed periodically without requiring disassembling of the machine.

Further objects are to provide a cable making machine which will sever the cable as it moves longitudinally and, if desired, to cut off a predetermined length thereof.

A further object is to provide a cable armoring machine with a mechanism. which both measures and cuts a desired length of cable without stopping the armoring operation.

A still further object is to provide a flying cutter mechanism which will serve to cut a cable while it is moving continuously through its various stages to a reeling mechanism where it is wound into coils of required length.

Afurther object is to provide a cable armoring machine with anarmor reeling mechanism which will serve to coil a fresh supply of armor in such a location relative to the moving cable as it passes through its various stages that a new coil of armor may be readily put into position and connected with the cable without requiring, disassembling the machine.

Further objects of the invention involve the provision of a special type of wire twisting mechanism which carries a supply of insulated wire and serves to twist the same prior to and associated with the armoring step and, if desired, to wrap them with an insulating strip or strips.

A still further object is to provide a revoluble wire twisting-head with spools of wire so mounted and arranged thereon that the spools will deliver their supplies of wire adequately and without interference as the twisting operation proceeds.

Another object is to coordinate the Various steps of twisting, insulating, armoring, stretching, measuring, cutting and reeling operations that a cable may be made substantially continuously and of indeterminate length. Further ob-' jects will be apparent in the following disclosure.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of this invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the entire machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; I

Fig. 3 is an elevation on the'line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail on the line lfi5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 6-5 of Fig. 3; v

Fig. 7 is a detail showing the winding of the paper and the electric wires;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of a brake mechanism, taken on the line -8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a rear elevation, partly broken away, taken in the direction of the arrow 9 at the right a hand end of Fig. l;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of the spool mounting, taken on the line ilk-l0 of Fi 6;

Fig. 11 is a detail in section of a lock for the spool spindle, taken on the line llii of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is an elevation of the armor spooling mechanism, taken on the line |2i 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig, 13 is a partial front elevation of the spooling mechanism with the reel shown in section, taken on the line i3-l3 of Fig. 12; I

Fig. 14 is a detail view, partly broken away, looking in the direction of the arrow I l in Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a section onthe line i5-l5 of Fig. 13 showing the arrangement of the clutch parts when the armor coil is supported in operative position;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary detail corresponding with Fig. 13, but showing the reel supporting mechanism opened to permit removal of the reel of armor;

v Fig. 17 is a fragmentary elevation looking in the direction of the arrow ll of Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is aview corresponding with Fig.

. showing the location of the clutch parts when the coil is to be removed;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary detail on the line [9-49 near the top of Fig. 12;

Fig. 20 is a detail showing a part of the reciprocating mechanism employed in laying the armor on' the reel;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view on the line 2|-2l of Fig. 20; v

Fig. 22 is a central horizontal sectional view of the armoring mechanism, taken on the line 22-22 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 23 is a detail elevation of parts shown in Fig. 22 looking into the direction of the arrow 23 thereof Fig. 24 is a fragmentary detail looking in the direction of the arrow 24 on Fig. 22;

Fig. 25 is a front elevation, partly broken away, I

of the armor stretching and measuring mechanism looking in the direction of the arrow 25 on Fig.2;

Fig. 26 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 25;

' Fig. 27 is a sectional view on the line 2'l-'-2l near the center of Fig. 26;

Fig. 23 is a detail showing the switch control mechanism taken on the line 28-28 of Fig. 26;

Fig. 29 is a vertical elevation, partly in section, on the line 29--29 of Fig- 1;

Fig. 30 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 29;

Fig. 36 is an enlarged detail. of parts shown in Fig. 31.

The cable armoring machine of the present invention comprises a mechanism for twisting two or more insulated electric wires and, if desired, wrapping further insulation thereabout and then coiling a metal strip around the wires vin such interlocked arrangement so as to form a flexible armored and insulated cable. The invention especially provides for measuring a desired length of cable, and, if desired, coiling it as a coil of required size, and automatically cutting off a predetermined length of the cable without stopping its longitudinal movement through the machine. During the armoring-operation, a new supply of armor may be coiled in position around the moving cable so as to be in position for use when the previouseoil has been exhausted, thus making it unnecessary to dismantle the. machine to assemble a new coil of armor. Also, the invention comprises a special take oif and feeding mechanism for supporting coils of insulated wire and paper or other insulation and twisting the same before ,the armoring step. Many other important features will be found in the following description.

Referring now to Figs.

* cams for timing other parts. This power is nected to rotate the armor forming and feeding 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises the several parts. indicated by the legends, wherein 52 also operates the cam mechanism which con- .trols the flyi g cutter.

the insulated wire is supported on spools l0 carried on the revolving head I! and from which the wires l4 are carried to a point where they are twisted together (Fig. 7) and covered with one or more insulating strips, such as paper I6, which is wrapped around the twisted wire in a helical fashion. This twisted and wrapped wire is then passed on to the armoring mechanism, wherein a strip of flexible metal 29 is suitably fashioned and wound in interlocked arrangement around the insulated wires, and preferably by a device of the type shown in the prior patent to Sleeper No. 1,703,251. The armored cable 22, commonly known in the trade as BX cable, is then drawn by a capstan 24 or other 'takeup device around spools26 of. small diameter which are so arranged as to bend the cable in various radial directions and thus stretch it and make it more flexible. The cable then passes a measuring wheel 28 contacting therewith which permits a given amount of cable, such as feet, to be wound on friction drivenreels 30. Then, when the required length has been wound thereon, the measuring wheel 28 operates suitable cam mechanism which causes a saw 32 or other suitable cutting implement to move forward and cut off the cable and thus leaves the free end of the constantly moving cable in condition for attachment to a second take up reel 30 for coiling thereon. The rotary saw 32 is mounted on a flying carriage 34 which carries clamping mechanism comprising clamps 36 (Fig. 2) .whichare arranged to be forced into gripping contact with the cable at the timethat the cable is to be out. These clamps are mounted on the flying carriage, so that as the cable is drawn forward by the takeup reels 30, this causes the carriage 34 to move forward with the cable while the saw is cutting therethrough. Upon'the completion of the cutting operation, the clamps are disengaged from the wire and the carriage returns automatically to its inoperative position and thus'permits a new supply-of cable to pass the same and be coiled. A further feature of the machine comprises, a spooling mechanism wherein a spool 40 (Figs. 1 and 2) is rotatably mounted in position to coil a new supply of armor around the =moving cable 22, and the parts are so constructed that when the old supply of armor 20 has been used up in the armoring step, the spool 4i) which carried the same may be removed laterally by passing the cable through a slot in the spool, and the new spool shoved axially into position.

The various mechanisms arevoperated in a timed relationship by a power mechanism which directly drives certain parts and operates the pre erably derived from an electric motor 44 (Fig. 2) or another source which indirectlyidrives the revolving head l2 carrying the wire drums l0 and thus twists the wires and the insulation at any desired rate of speed. The power derived from the motor 44 is also arranged to revolve the armoring head 46 at a constant rate of speed for wrapping the metal armor about the twisted wires. The power is also transmitted .to a variable speed device 48 of suitable type which is con-.

rolls 50 (Fig. 22) at a desired speed so as to shape the armor and coil it as a helix about the twisted wires. A shaft 52 (Fig. 1; serves to transmit power from the constant-speed side of the power driving mechanism to the capstan 24 which draws the cable through the armor'ug stage. .This shaft- A separate motor 54 is power driven main shaft may serve to operate all or any part of the different units.

- Wire twisting and wrapping mechanism The wire that is to be armored'may be made as desired and employed as a single strand or as multiple strands. In the construction illustrated v in Figs. 3 to 11 inclusive, two or more wires covered with suitable insulation, such as rubber or composition material, are so mounted on the revolving head I2 that these wires aretwisted together. For this purpose, the head I2 is shaped as a drum having a disk shaped plate 68 provided with a flange 6| which is shaped as a cylinder on its outer surface. This flange is mounted on four rollers 82 which have flanges 63 (Fig. arranged to guide the revolving head. These r011 ers 62 are suitably mounted on ball bearings which are in turn mounted on stationary studs 85, suitably supported in the framework 66, which in turn is mounted on I beams on the floor. This framework is an iron casting provided with strengthening ribs, and it has a central circular opening 61 within which the cylindrical head I2 is revolubly mounted. In order to permit insertion and removal of the head, the two upper rollers 62 are mounted in sliding hollow boxes 88 (Fig. 3) having end walls which carry the studs 65 suitably secured therein. The end walls of the boxes project as flanges and form V-shaped slide ways which interflt with the spaced ribs I8 on the main frame 66, which is cut away there between to provide a recess for the box. An adjusting screw '52 suitably threaded through a portion of .the frame 65 serves to adjust the position of the box 68 and the roller carried thereby and thus hold the driving head I2 in proper rotatable position. Secured on the inner face of the plate 68 of the driving head is a flanged ring I4 (Figs. 3 and 4) having gear teeth on itsperiphery and these teeth are in mesh with the gear l6 keyed on the shaft I? which is suitably mounted in bearings on the frame. This shaft is driven by the main motor 44 through suitable intermediate gear mechanism, and the speed of the head I2 may be changed by changing the driving gears 78 and 19 thereof. A Variable speed unit or other suitable mechanism may be employed for this purpose of regulating the speed of the head.

The coils of wire to be armored are supported on metal spools ill which may be suitably made but, as shown in Fig. 10, comprise side plates 88 which are larger than the drum or peripheral surface of the spool III, and thus form flanges that hold the coiled wire in place. These plates the sides of the fiber washer.

end of the sleeve 84 exerts a lateral pressure on Thus, the stationary sleeve 85 exerts a frictional resistance which tends to retard the rotation of the spool and to hold {the wire tight as it is drawn therefrom.

The yoke 88 which carries the spool III has two spaced, arms which carry the opposite ends of the shaft 82 on which the spool is mounted. The

. right hand end of the shaft 82 (Fig. 10) is suitably mounted on a sleeve 96 which is non-rotatably supported in a slot in the arm 88 similar to the mounting of the sleeve 85 shown in Fig. 11. The yoke 88 is so shaped that it is mounted for I rotation about an axis parallel with the axis of the head I2 and which is located well above the axial line and center of gravity of the spool Ill so that the spool always hangs in theposition illustrated as the head I2 revolves. For this purpose, the yoke (Fig. 6) terminates in a hollow bearing member or trunnion I00 through which the wires I4 passes in its travel from the spool to the armoring mechanism. This trunnion is suitably supported in ball bearings within a hollow boss I02 projecting laterally from. the plate 68 of the driving head I2. The nut I03 threaded on the inner end of the trunnion I88 bears against the inner face of the boss I02 and thus prevents the trunnion and yoke supported thereby from getting out of its bearing support. The driving head I2 has four bosses I02 for supporting these wire carrying spools, and these bosses are preferably so located, as shown in Fig. 3, that two spools may be mounted with their axes passing through a 'diametricalplane of the head I2 or three spools may be mounted to form an equi-lateral triangle, so that 'the spools may be symmetrically balanced about the axis of the driving head.

Since these yokes 88 are mounted for free rotation in their trunnion bearings and the center of gravity of each spool is below the axis of the trunnion I08, the spools might start oscillating about their axis as the head revolves and thus interfere with the proper operation of the machine or possibly strike one another and cause damage. A special feature of this invention involves a construction which dampens that oscillation or causes all of the spools to oscillate in the same direction at the same time, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 9 and thus not inter fere with one another. For this purpose, a sprocket I86 is suitably mounted on the inner end of each of the trunnions I08 and an endless chain I88 (Fig. 3) is passed around, these sprock ets and held tight by idler sprocket I88 carried on pins adjustably mounted in elongated slots in the driving plate 6B, so that they may be adjusted back and forth to tighten the chain.

to rest on the central shaft 82. The spool is prevented from rotating freely on its shaft by a friction braking device, which comprises a sleeve 84 slldably fitted on a reduced end of the shaft 82. This in turn carries another sleeve 85 which has an inner radial flange 86. The sleeve 85 has two flat vertical sides 81' (Fig. 11) slidably fitting into a recess in one arm of the yoke 88 which is supported on the driving head. The sleeve 84 has a radial flange 89 provided with a pin 90 projecting therefrom and through a hole in the plate 88 of the spool. A fiber or other friction washer 92 is located between the flanges 86 and 89. A spring 93 held between the end of the sleeve 85 and a pair of nuts 94 threaded onto the These idler sprockets will serve to tighten the chain whether either two or three spools are employed. It will, therefore, be seen that as the head I2 revolves, the spools will always depend in the same direction from their hearing mounts. If any one of these spools should start oscillating, the inertia of the other spools works through the connecting chain I88 to dampen that motion and thus hold all of the spools in a proper depending This lock comarm 88 and held in engagement with the sleeves 85 and 36 by means of a spring pressed pin II2 held by a spring I I3 in engagement with a hole in tightly about the wires and the armored cable is prevented from'rotation by other portions of the mechanism, the positive revolution of the driving head I2 will cause the two or more wires I4 coming from the spools to be twisted about one another as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. These wires are guided to their junction or twisting point I I4 by means of hollow tubes I I5 suitably mounted in ears on a ring H6 -(Figs."3 and 6) which is carried-by a casting I I1 secured on the inner face of the plate 60 of the driving head. Thus, as the head'revolves and carries the two or more tubes H5, the wires are caused to be twisted together.

For the purpose of wrapping one or more strips of paper or other insulating material about the twisted wires, a special construction is provided (Fig. 6) which comprises one or more metal spools I20 carrying the insulating strip and mounted on studs I2I which are in turn'supported on the casting I N. If one spool is used it may be mounted to present its paper in an axial plane of the driving head, but in the, illustrated arrangement two spools are so mounted that the insulating paper I6 delivered therefrom will "be wrapped around the wires at a point just beyond the point .I I4 where they are twisted together, as

shown particularly in Fig. '7. The spools I are made in the usual way to provide a drum on which the paperis mounted and side flanges to hold it into place, and the mounting of these spools is so arranged as to provide a frictional resistance which prevents free rotation thereof and provides a resistance which holds the paper taut. This friction may be provided, as shown particularly in Figs. 6 and 8, by securing'a flanged drum I24 on the opposite end of each stud. A flexible brake band I25 passes around this drum and one end'is secured to the nut I26 which is fixed on the casting I I1, while the other end is secured to a screw/threaded pinpassing through the nut and adjustable relative thereto for the purpose of tightening the brake band.

, The reduced end I2'I of each drum serves as anaxle rotatably mounted in a bearing on the frame I I1, so that the drum will revolve as permitted by the friction band. (V L It will. thus be seen that the head I2 revolves about .the axial line of the armored cable and twists the wires and one or more strips of insulating material together. Hence, this feature of the machine provides a positive twisting action which insures that the cable will'be of uniform construction throughout its length. The paper spools are preferably set in such an arrangement on the ,driving 'head that; one paper strip winds' on the wire in advance of the other and they'thus overlap properly as a helical winding.

' Armon'ng mechanism The armoring construction may be made in accordance with the U. S. Patent to Sleeper No.

1,703,251. or as otherwise desired. One feature of this construction involves so arranging the parts that the coiled supply of metal armor strip.

20 is mounted around and concentric with the cable as it passes from the armoring step to the later operations. This armor is mounted on a reel I30 or drum (Fig. 22) which comprises side members I3I forming flanges which hold the armor in position. The drum I30 is sli'dably rollers I36 carried on the revolvable armoring head. This head comprises a drum I36 having flanged portion I31 provided with radially projecting ears I39 (Fig. 214). 'A fixed spindle I40 is mounted at one end in the ear I36 and at the other end in a hole in another flanged portion I38 of the drum. and it is suitably secured in position therein. The roller I30 is suitably mounted, such as by means of ball bearings, on -this spindle I40 as shown in said patent. Three or more of these rollers I34 are provided to support the drum I32.

The armor spool I30 is locked in position on the drum I32 by means of conical flanges I62 projectinglaterally from the spool. The right hand flange (Fig. 22) is adapted to slip under a correspondingly shaped lug I43 on the drum I32. The other conical flange is locked beneath a set of locking plates IM (Fig. 24) which is suitably secured as by means of cap screws to the drum I32. Thus by loosening the locking plates I, the spool may be very quickly removed.

The drum I30 and the sides I3I are cut away at I61, as shown in Fig. 12, so that the drum is substantially U-shaped and thus may be slipped out of position and passed over the armored cable 22 and be removed from the scene of operations. Each of the side plates I3I may be locked together across the cutout opening III, as shown *in Figs. 12 and 19, by means of a swinging latch I The operation of shaping the metal armor strip and winding it on the cable is no part of the present invention and reference may be had to the prior Sleeper patent for that construction. However, it is to benoted that this is accomplished in the construction illustrated in Figs. 2'2 and 23 by means of the forming rolls I50 and plates I52 which are so located and shaped as to direct the armor in a helical arrangement about the twisted wire. The metal strip 20 is drawn from thesupply drum I30 and fed forward by means of the feed rolls 50 (Fig. 23) which grip opposite sides of thestrip and are positively driven so as to force the strip into the forming rolls. There the strip is bent into somewhat of an S-shape and so arranged that the left hand or advance edge of the strip fits over and interlocks with the right hand or rear edge of the next precedingconvolution of the strip. Similarly, the forming rolls I50 are set at an angle relative to each other so as to direct the armor at the proper pitch.

The drum I36 is supported on a disk shaped plate I60 which projects radially from a sleeve v I6I (Fig. 22) and this sleeve is in turn mounted on ball bearings I62 and I63 suitably carried within spaced hollow bearing members I64 and I65 of the main casting of the machine. Rotatably mounted inside of the sleeve I6I is another sleeve I61 which is suitably mounted on ball bearings at its right hand end. Located within the sleeve I61 is a hollow guide tube I68 through which thetwisted wire and insulating material passes to the armoring station. The right hand end of this tube is suitably mounted in a bracket on a fixed portion of the framework, as shown.

A driving pulley I69 keyed on the sleeve I61 serves to rotate the same at difierent required speeds, as provided by the variable speed driving mechanism 48, while another-driving pulley I10,

power drive of the machine.

keyed to sleeve I6I serves to rotate the drum I36 which carries'the armoring cable at a constant speed. Suitable friction material is interposed to permit the armor drum to unwind its material at the required rateirrespective of the diameter of thejcoil. A suitable driving pulley "I- on the right hand end of sleeve I8I drives the variable speed mechanism 48, which may comprise two pairs of adjustable driving plates so arranged relative to a I-belt as to give various in combinations of pulley diameters, as is well known in the industry. The sleeve I61 has a skewed gear I12 keyed .on its inner end and this in turn drives the gear I13 which carries one of the feed rolls 50; and a. spur gear on the shaft of one 15 feed roll drives a spur gear on the shaft of the other feed roll to rotate them in unison. Hence,

as the armoring head is revolved by sleeve I6I, the armor is drawn from the spool I30 and wrapped about the non-rotating twisted wires in a continuous operation, without revolving the .wrapped cable, as described in the Sleeper patent.

Spoolz'mg mechanism for armor supply In order that the process maybe substantially continuous, and to avoid thenecessity for disassembling the machine for replacing the spool of armor, this machine has been so constructed that a new coil of armor may be wound about the axis of the moving cable during the armoring operation, and it is merely necessary to remove the empty reel laterally and slide the new reel intoposition axially along the cable when the armor supply needs to be replenished. Then, 85 the new armor strip is welded or otherwise'fas- 'tend to the end of the strip on the cable and the armoring step may again proceed. As shown in Fig. 2, a supply of armor is carried on the spool 58 which is suitably mounted for rotation 40 about its axis so that it may deliver the armor as required for the coiling operation. The spool 40, which is made up of the drum I30 and side flanges I3I, is removably mounted concentric with the cable on a special type of reel. This comprises, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, a rotatable disk I82 integral with a hub I83 keyed on a hollow shaft I84. This shaft is in turn mounted in hearings in the two upright pieces I85 and I86 of a triangular frame supported on the floor. Mounted on this framework is an electric motor I88 which drives through a belt I89 a pulley I90 rotatably mounted on a shaft I 9| suitably mount ed in the framework which carries a small gear I92 meshing with a large gear I93 rotatably 5 mounted on another shaft I94 which carries a small gear- I 95, and this small gear in turn meshes with a large gear I96which is keyed on the shaft I84, thusforming a reduction gearing fordriv-' ing the reel at a very slow rat e. This drive. it will be observed, is independent 'ofthe main However, it may be connected to.the main driveusing a disconnecting member, such as a friction clutch.

The disk I82 of the reel has ears I98 project- 05 ing near its periphery to which are hingedthe arms I99 (Figs. 13 and 16). The outer end of each arm I99 has depending and spaced ears or lugs 200 carrying a pin 20! which passes through an eye in the,outer end of a take-up bar 202. 7 This bar carries aturn buckle 203 threaded likewise into another bar'204 which has an eye on its outer end hinged to a pin 205 mounted in cars 20B arranged as an equilateral triangle (Fig.

17)' on the sleeve 201. This sleeve is loosely mounted on the end of'the shaft I84 for rotation thereon.

As shown in Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 18, the hub I83 of the rel has a diametrically arranged slot 2l0 having spaced radial walls which are farther apart than the width of a ing 2| I projecting laterally from the sleeve 20! into the recess, thus allowing a limited rotation of the sleeve 20'! relative to the hub ,I83. An annular groove 2 (Fig. 13) in the shaft I84 receives the end of an operating handle 2I5 threaded into the sleeve 201.' A spring pin 2I6, which passes through the sleeve 201, has its inner end projecting into a hole 2| 1 (Fig. 15) in the hub I83, thus locking the parts together at times and causing them to rotate together. When the 'pin'2I8 is pulled out of that looking position, then one may grasp the handle 2 -I5 and rotate the turnbuckle and locking bars 202 and 204 from the dead center position of Fig. 12 to the off center position of Fig. 17. In the former position, the arms I99 are in position to support one side of the drum I30 (Fig. 13). The other side of the drum I30 is supported on' the ears I98 of the" 5 disk I82. Upstanding flanges 220 on the disk and 22I on the arm I99 locate the drum properly in position. The pin M6 is in a locked position (Fig. 14;) when the reel is being properly sup-c Ported. When the pin 2I6 is withdrawn manually and the handle 2I5 revolved through the distance permitted by the lost motion between the parts 2") and 2 (Fig. 14) the inner end of the .pin 2I6 is turned fromthe position shown in Fig. 15 to that of Fig. 18, wherein the pin is located within the recess 2I0. This recess, therefore, serves to lock the clamping arms in the open or released position oi Fig. 16 thus permitting the reel 40 to be readfly withdrawn toward the right and a-new one inserted on the arms. This is done after the reel 40 previously mounted on the armoring-mechanlsm, shown. in Fig. 22, has been removed axially and then radially to permit the cable to pass through the slot I in the sides of the reel. Thus, it is pos-. sible to change the spools and to thread the new armor into position for the armoring operation in a very short period of time.

As shown in Figs. 2, 20 and 21, the new supply of armor I coming from the supply spool 58 is caused to be wound helically on the winding spool 40 by a special traverse mechanism, .which comprises two screws 230 and 23I having the meshin'g'gears 232 and 233 on theirouter ends,

all of which are suitably supported in a-frame 234 on a bracket 235 of the machine frame. I85. The screw 23I has a pulley 230cm its outer end carrying a belt 23'! which is driven from'a pulley 238 (Fig. 13) on the shaft I84. These two screws are driven in opposite directions, and'twohalf nuts 248 and 239 are. arranged on two arms 240 and MI (Fig. 21) whichare pivotally and slidably mounted at their upper ends on the shaft 242. The arms 240 and 2 are rigidly connected together so that they may rock and slide together on the shaft 242. A centrally located depending arm 244 has a hardened steel lip 248 at its lower end which engages and rides alonga stationary guide bar 24! located centrally between and slightly below the screws. Supported on the top of the rocking arms 24!! and 24I is an ear 250 which is attached to a rod 25I so that of them engages one of the oppositely rotating screws. Attached to the rod 25I is aframe,- work' (Fig. 12) which supports straightening rollers 252 arranged to guide and straighten the armor as it passes from the supply reel to the spool 48, A further guide roll 253 located in a bath of oil 254 serves to lubricate the armoring strip for its later forming operation. The guide rolls 252 are shaped as spoolsand thus guide the armor as its carriage is moved back and forth and so force the armor to beJwound in'a helix on the spool 40. One of the half nuts engages one of thescrews at one time and the guide 246 (Fig. 21') passes along one side of the guide bar' 241 untilit reaches a rocking, spring pressed cam 256 (Fi 20) which guides the slide member 246-around the end of the guide 241 and causes I it to engage the other side of the guide and at the same time rock the half nuts so that the the hub 212 and'thus to transmit the drivin other nut and screw are brought intooperation.

A similar mechanism is located at the other end i of the screws so as to cause the guide rollers 252 to reciprocate back and forth and thus guide the armor in its spooling operation. Any other suitable reciprocating mechanism may be em- .ployed for'this purpose of laying the armor on the reel.

Wire flexing mechanism .As shownin Figs. 1, 2, 25 and 26, the armored cable is drawn forward by the capstan 24 about which the cable is looped. A spring pressed roller 268 suitably 'mounted in the framework to correlate the speed'of the cable with the armoring operation. The cable is looped around two rollers 26, the right hand one of which is arranged to revolve freely about a horizontal axis and the left hand one mounted to revolve about a vertical axis (Fig. 25), suitable bearin supports being provided for this purpose. The

-rollers are of small diameter and the force applied'to the cable by the capstan causes the formed interlocking convolutions of the cable to stretch in order to make the circuit of small radius, and this makes the cable more flexible.

The drive for this mechanism is taken from the. power shaft 52 passing along near the base of the machine which is mounted at its left hand end in suitable bearings on the framework. This shaft (Fig. 25) has a beveled gear 264 on itsend meshing with a further bevel gear 265 which is keyed to a cross shaft 266. This-shaft carries a sprocket 261 which drives a chain 268 and that in turn drives a sprocket 269 (Fig. 26)

l loosely mounted on a shaft 210 which is suitably mounted in bearings on the framework. The

sprocket 269 has a hub 212 which in turn car- 'ries' a friction disk 213 having extensive plane 'frictlon surfaces on its opposite sides. A pair of fiber washers 214 and 215 engage the opposite sides of this disk. The washer 214 rests against the inner plane face of the housing 216.

The other fiber washer 215 bears on its outer side against a disk 211 which "is integral with the hub 218 pinned to the shaft 219. A spring 219'he1d in place against a nut 280 on the hub 218 bears against a set of latches 282 pivoted on ears on the housing 216. These latches are thus forced by the spring against the outer face of the plate 211. This causes the fiber washers.

to frictionally press against the flange 213 of determined by a cam mechanism.

force from the sprocket 269 to the shaft 210. The outer end of the shaft 210 carries a gear 284 which meshes with the gear 285 hired on the shaft 286. This shaft 28.6 carries the capstan 24 keyed on its outer end. Thus, the capstan is frictionally driven by the main motor,

and in timed relation with the other parts, but

slippage may be had if at any time needed. The

gears 284 and 285 maybe replaced by gears of different teeth ratio and thus change the driving speed thereof to accommodate various widths of stock.

Measuring and cutting of) mechanism cutting device, such as a rotary steel disk saw of suitable construction, which is driven by a separate electric motor, and the parts are so mounted on a transversely movable support as to be moved forward to cut the cable at a time This support for the saw is in turn mounted on a flying carriage arranged to be moved in the direction of cable travel. Just before the saw moves into contact with the cable, gripping members on the flying carriage are brought into engagement with the moving cable by means of a further cam mechanism, and these gripping members cause the carriage to move along with the cable momentarily and thus hold the rotary saw in a fixed position relative to the moving cable during the time that it is cutting the same. This forward movement of the cable is preferably caused by the take up-reel 30 which is driven by a" separate electric motor and friction drive.

Immediately afterthe cable has been cut, the

' gripping mechanism is released and the rotary saw moves away from the cable to its initial position, and its driving motor comes to a stop.

Then the free end of the cable may be connected to another take-up reel 30 and the cable reeling operation continued.

Immediately after the cable 22 leaves the can: stan, it passes over a measuring wheel 28 and a spring pressed roller 290 (Fig. 25). ,.The wheel 28 is turned by the cable-passing 'thereover. A sprocket 292 on the shaft 293 carrying the measuring wheel 28 drives a sleeve 296 which is con nected to a sprocket 295 loosely mounted on the shaft 286 (Figs. 25, 26 and 2'7). This sleeve 296 has a worm 291 on its opposite end which drives a worm gear 298 mounted on a further shaft- 299, and the latter carries a small gear 868 meshing with a larger gear 3M on the shaft 302, all of which are suitably supported on the frame.

. This shaft 302 carries two disks 303 and 304 (Figs. 26 and 28) supporting a triangularbar 306 thereon in position for revolving aboutthe axis of the shaft. This bar 386 has an extremely slow motion, in that it revolves only once for v the required measurement of cable, such as 1 0 geet, which is to be wound on the take-up spool As shown in Figs. 29 to 35, the rotary saw 329 is made of suitable construction and material, and its axle is mounted in a housing 32! so arranged that the saw may be positioned close to the moving cable. 'The bearing housing 321 is in turn mounted on a slide plate 322 which is adjustably mounted on a swinging. plate 324.

The latter has an upstanding lip 326 through which passes an adjusting screw 326 engaging threads in the, plate 322 and serving to adjust the two plates relative to each other. The plate 324 has a pair of downward projecting ribs 321 to which are pivoted the short links 328.v There are four of these links arranged near the corners of the rectangular plate 324. These links are in turn supported on pivots 333 mounted on the sides of the flying carriage 332. The links 328 are of such length that the plates carrying the rotary saw maybe swung back and forth toward and from theficable 22 Also mounted on the top slide plate 322 is an electric motor 336 having a pulley and-a belt 331 on one end of its shaft, which drive the rotary saw. This motor is controlled through a starting resistance boil 343 of suitable construc-' tion (Fig. 28) which has a. control handle 342 mounted in the path of a pin 344 mounted on the disk 334 (Figs. 26 and 28) which carries one end of the cam bar 336. These parts and the electric circuit and start the motor in operation and thus drive the rotary saw. Owing to the slow motion of the disk 334, the pin 344 remains in contact with the roller on the handle 342 for a sufliciently long time to effect the cutting off operation. The pin slips past the end of, the handle 342 by the time the cutting has been completed, and a spring 346 serves to draw the handle of the resistance box back to its initial position and thus break the circuit and stop the electric motor. This operation starts just prior to the contact of bar 336 with bellcrank roll 331 and subsequent movement of the saw to cut the cable.

The flying carriage 332 has V-shaped rollers 353 which ride on the interfltting guide tracks 352 which are arranged parallel with the cable movement. A weight 354 (Fig. 29) serves through a flexible cable355 to return the carriage 332 towards the right (Fig. 1) when the grippers are released, and to hold it there in its idle position against bumpers 356 (Fig. 30) provided for the purpose.

The forward motion of the swinging saw supporting plate and the clamping action which connects the flying carriage with the cable is controlled by means of a cam mechanism driven by 36l thereon arranged to drive through a chain a further sprocket 362 loosely mounted on a shaft 364 carried beneath the carriage 332. The.

sprocket 362 is fastened. on a sleeve 366 which has three radially arranged notches 368 (Figs. 33,

34 and 35) in its right hand face. A sleeve. 313

' having an annular groove 31] therein is keyed to the outer end of the shaft 364. A dog 312 is slidably mounted in a slideway or slot 313 in the sleeve. This slot 313 extends radially inwardly of the sleeve 313 and is so arranged that the dog 312 slides parallel with the axis of the shaft 364. The dog 312 has a beveled surface 314 which is engaged by a correspondingly beveled surface on a ro king latch 318 which is pivoted at 319 .(Fig. 29) on the framework of the carriage. The upper end of the. rocking lever 318 is connected by a coiled spring 383 with a link 382'wh'ich is pivotally connected to one end of a bell crank lever 334 pivotally mounted at 385 on the side pf the flying carriage 332. The lower end of the lever-334 has a roller 381 located in the path of revolution of the wedge shaped cam bar 336 (Figs. 28 and 29). These parts are so arranged that the forward radially arranged face of the bar 336 strikes the roller 331 and rocks thebell crank 334 and thus pulls the link 332 to the'left and rocks the lower end of lever 313-to the right. The'lever 318 has a pin 383 (Fig. 29) slidably mounted in a slot 389 in the link 332 which thus forms a support for the right hand end of the link. The lower end of lever 318 is held in its left hand position (Fig.29) by a tension spring 393 suitably mounted on the carriage framework. A V-shaped latch 392 is pivotally mounted on the top end of the lever 313 andit has a lug adapted to lock over a projection 394 on the side of the link 382. The other end of the latch 332 is held tosthe right by means of a spring 396 which thus tends to hold the latch in a locked position. A pin 398 projecting from the periphery of the sleeve 313 and the V-shapedlatch 392 are so located and arranged that the pin in its revolution is adapted to unlock the latch 392 and allow the rocking latch 313 to be moved by spring 393 into position to move the dog 312 towards the left (Fig. 35) and out of engagement withthe slot 363 in the sleeve 366. v

In the operation of this mechanism, when the cam bar 336 (Fig. 29) strikes the end of the bell crank 384 it pulls the lower end of lever 318 to the right through the action of the spring 383. The lower beveled end of the lever 318 slides off the beveled surface of the dog 312 and permits the spring 339 to push the dog into one of the three recesses 363 in the sleeve 366 when it reaches the same in its travel. The end of the dog 3'12 rests it can drop 'into one of the radial slots 368. This connects the'sleeve 313 (keyed to shaft 364) with the sprocket hub, 366 and thus causes the motor to rotate the cam shaft 364. The pin 333 (Fig.

29) will then travel a short distance and strike the lower end of the latch 332 and release it and permit the lower cam end of the rocking lever 313 to move again towards the, left so as to engage the beveled cam of the revolving dog- 312 when it presents itself, and thus removes it from engagement with one of the radial grooves 363 (Fig.

34) "Thus the dog 312 can revolve only one revolution and the cam shaft likewise rotates but once before it stops. This takes place during the cable sawing operation. R

.The cam shaft 364 (Figs. 31 and 32) has twocams 433 and 432 thereon? The small cam 433 engages a roller on the end of a bell crank lever 434 pivoted centrally on a lug 435 depending from the carriage 332. The other end of this rocking lever 434 is T-shaped and provided with two screws 436 adjustably fitted therein, whichengage the bottom ends of the two sliding rods 433 that are held in a downward position by means of springs 439 mounted between collars on the rods 438 and supporting lugs M3 on the carriage. The upper ends of these rods 433 are pivotally connected to levers 4l2 (Fig. 36) in turn pivoted at 413011 the framework on each side of the saw 323. The right hand end of each lever has a semi-cylindrical member 414 removably secured thereto. The inner surface of this bearing member M4 is shaped somewhat as a half nut so that r it will fit against the convolutions of the armor.

1 is of such shape that it will force the shoes 4" against the cable and hold it gripped in position until a low spot or idle position on the cam 4H5 permits disengagement j thereof. Since the clamping arms 4 I 2 are secured to a bracket on the flying carriage, this clamping action, which takes place immediately after the bell crank 384 trips and cam shaft 364 starts to rotate causes the carriage to be drawn forward on its rollers 350 and to travel withthe moving cable.

At substantially the same time as the clamping action takes place, the other cam 402 on shaft 364 engages a roller on the lower end of the lever 420 which is a continuation of one of the links 328 (Fig. 31). This cam and the lever 420. are so shaped that the swinging plate 324 is caused to move forward with its rotary saw so that the latter engages and cuts through the cable while the flying carriage is connected to it and moves therewith. By the time that operation has been completed, the tension spring 422 (Fig. 29) which connects pins on the upper and lower carriage, is permitted by cam 402 to return the upper swinging carriage to an inoperative position. At the same time, the clamps 2 are released by their cam 400. The cable being fashioned con- I tinues to move forward and its free end is ready for connection to another take-up reel. As soon as the'clamps are released, the carriage is returned on its rails by means of the weight 354 to its initial position.

The take-up reeling mechanism which winds the cable onthe spools may be made in accordance with the construction shown in the U. S. patent to Sleeper and Blount No. 1,753,950. This comprises in general twospools or reels 30 driven by a separate, electric motorthrough a on the reel. The particular construction of that mechanism forms no part of the present invention except in so far as the take-up reel serves as a motive power to draw the flying carriage forward during the cutting off operation.

Operation The operation of this device will now vbe apparent in viewt of the above description. If=a single wire is to be armored, then the revolving head will not be rotated; but ordinarily two or ured. The flylng'cutter mechanism under its cam controls proceeds to cut the moving cable and the free end of the traveling cable sent forward by the capstan is then attached to the second take-up reel. Thus the operation is substantially continuous and the machine needs to be stopped only for the purpose of splicing new armor strips and wires ontothe cable.

Fields of utility various sub-combinations ofthe machine may be employed without using other features of the assembly. For example, the ,fiying carriage and cutter mechanism associated therewith, with or without the measuring device, may be employed for cutting other types of cable, which term is to be interpreted as covering wire, rods, tubes, rails and other long shaped articles that are to cut into shorter lengths; and it isparticularly useful for cutting such articles as they travel longitudinally from one operation to another,

such as between the operations of drawing and spooling a wire or during the step of rolling out a rod, rail, bar or other required shape wherein a predetermined length is to be out from a piece that is being fashioned. It will also be understood that an abrasive cutting wheel may be substituted for the toothed saw above mentioned,"

and that other suitable types of cutting implements may be, used, such as shears or sharpened cutters made of suitably shaped materials of the required hardness, depending upon the nature, shape and size of the article to be out. In each of these fields of utility, the cutter is mounted on a flying carriage which is temporarily connected to and drawn along by the moving article to be cut, and the cutter and the operating parts are so constructed and arranged that the cutter will move transversely of the carriage movement and serve to sever the moving body without interfering with its forward movement. Similarly,

the revolving head I2 is capable of use for twisting together 'wires or strips of various materials, whether. or not they are to be armored with an interlocked flexible metal strip, or whether other subsequent operations above described are to be employed.

It will,,however, be appreciated that all of the diflerent features above described are desirable in a machine intended for making a flexible more .wires are mountedon the spools i0 and are twisted together.

The revolving head will be used if one or more strips of insulating material iii are to be wound around the cable. If the e'ntire machine is to be used, the take-up capstan 24 serves to draw the armored cable through the machine and to pull the separate wires .from their spools. After a full supply spool 40 of the armor strip has been mounted in .place on the armoring mechanism, an empty spoolis also threaded onto the armored cable 22 and an armor strip is wound thereon from the supply 58.

The armor of the second spool is adapted to be welded onto the free end of the'armor from the exhausted spool. wire become exhausted, new spools are put in place and the wires aresuitably connected .to the rear ends of the wires passing through the machine. Then, as the armoring proceeds and the cable is drawn past the measuring roller 28, it

is wound on one of the-tike-upv spools 30 until I definiteamount of material has been meas- Similarly, when the spools of armored cable continuously and substantially automatically, and that the above described stages of the manufacturing operation are interdependent on one another and cooperate to produce spools of definite length of cable from separate supplies of wire and armor strip, with the minimum of manual effort and control.

The above disclosure is therefore to be considered as being merely illustrative of the general principles of the invention and'not as limiting it to the specific structure shown in the drawings; hence the claims are to be interpreted accordingly.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: y

1. A cable armoring machine comprising a rotatable head, means for holding a supply of separate wires on the head, means for rotating the head and means for moving the cable forward and simultaneously drawing the wires from .the rotating head without rotating the cable whereby the wires are twisted together, means 2,242,022 '9, '7. A wire twisting mechanism comprising a rol for wrapping and interlocking an armoring strip about the non-rotating twisted wires and forming a flexible cable, means for measuring a predetermined length of the moving cable, means for cutting ofi said length without stopping the cable and means for synchronizing the operations of the said means.

2. A machine for making a cable comprising a.

rotatable head, means for revolubly supporting spools of wire thereon, means for rotating the head, drawing mechanism for moving the cable longitudinally and non-rotatably and drawing the wires from said spools on the rotating head, whereby the wires are twisted together, a second drawing mechanism adapted to draw the cable longitudinally and cutting mechanism located between said drawing mechanisms for cutting the cable during its longitudinal movement, said drawing mechanisms serving to continue the forward motion of both portions of the severed cable so that the machine may operate continuously, and means for synchronizing the operations of said mechanisms.

3. A machine for making cable comprising a rotatable head, revoluble spools of wire thereon, drawing mechanism for moving thecable longitudinally and non-rotatably "and drawing the wires from the spools, means for simultaneously rotating the head whereby the wires are twisted together as they are drawn forward, mechanism for measuring a predetermined length of the moving cable, a flying cutter mechanism con trolled by the measuring mechanism for causing a predetermined length of cable to be cut off while it moves forward continuously and means for synchronizing the operations of said mechanisms. I

4. A machine for making armored cable comprising a support for a supply of wire, a support for a supply of armoring strip, drawing mechanism which draws the finished cable and the wire longitudinally, armoring mechanism coordinated with the drawing mechanism which helically winds and interlocks the armor strip about the wire as it is drawn forward, a flying cutter mechanism for cutting the cable as it continues to move forward, and measuring mechanism controlling the cutter mechanism which causes the cable to be cut when a predetermined length of cable has passed the same.

5. A cable armoring machine comprising a rotatable head, means including supplies of separate wires mounted thereon, means for drawing the wires forward without rotating the cable, means for rotating the head to twist the wires as the head rotates, means for wrapping and interlocking an armoring strip about the twisted wires and forming a flexible cable, means for flexing the cable, means for measuring a predetermined length thereof, means for cutting off said length without stopping the cable and means for spooling the severed length of cable.

6.- A cable'making machine comprising a rotatable head, means for rotating same, a plurality of trunnions mounted for free axial rotation on said head in a parallel axial arrangement, yokes on the trunnions arranged to carry spools of wire thereon with their centers of gravity below the axes of the trunnions, means for guiding the wires into substantially the axial line of the head and causing the same to be twisted as thehead is rotated and means connecting the trunnions so that the spools may' swing only in the same direction at the same time as the head rotates.

tatable head, a plurality of trunnions mounted on the head in spaced relationship and axially.

parallel with the head axis for free rotation ing arms, spools of wire mounted on the depending arms with their centers of gravity below'the axial lines of the trunnions so that they always hang in the same position on the head as the latter rotates, means-connecting the trunnions so that the spools may swing only in the same direction at the same time, means for guiding the Wires into substantially the-axial line of the rotating head, means for drawing the wire from said spools and means for rotating the head and causing the wires to be twisted together.

8. A cable making machine comprising a support for a supply of a plurality of wires, a support for a supply of armoring strip, means for drawing the wires from the support and twisting them together, means for winding said strip about the twisted wires and forming an armored cable, mechanism for drawing the cable continuously forward through the twisting and armoring operations, means for continuously is wound on said reel and without stopping the forward movement of the cable through the prior operations and mechanism which coordinates the wire twisting and stripwinding operations with the forward movement of the cable and the cable cutting operation.

9. A cable making machine comprising a rotatable head carrying supplies of wire thereon, means for rotating the head, two longitudinally spaced drawing mechanisms for pulling the cable longitudinally and non-rotatively and thereby drawing the wires from said head as it rotates and causing them to be twisted together, a supply coil of armor strip surrounding the wires, armoring mechanism for rotating the coil and winding the strip in a helical interlocked relationship about the twisted wires as they move forward, means located between said drawing mechanisms for cutting the cable during its lonportions of the severed cable so that the machine may operate continuously, and means for 00 ordinating the operations of the head and said mechanisms to provide predetermined cable lengths.

10. A machine for making an armored cable comprising a rotatable head, revoluble spools of wire thereon, drawing mechanism for moving the cable longitudinally and non-rotatively and drawing the wires from the spools and means for simultaneously rotating the head whereby the wires are twisted together, a coil of armoring strip, armoring mechanism for winding the strip about the moving twisted wires in a helical interlocked relationship, mechanism for cutting oil a predetermined length of the cable as it moves forward and means for coordinating the rotation of the head and said mechanisms to produce predetermined lengths of cable.

11. A cable-making machine comprising a rotwisted together, a support for a coil of armor- 

